Modular fly fishing reel

ABSTRACT

A modular fly fishing reel includes a frame with a side wall, a generally cylindrical axle cartridge removably mounted in a mounting socket of the frame side wall and also having an outer rotatable axle tube, and a spool having a hub removably secured on the axle tube by a quick release mechanism. The axle cartridge includes a drag assembly adjustable by a drag nut positioned adjacent the frame side wall and acting on the rotatable axle tube and spool. The quick release mechanism includes a detent that is spring biased through the spool hub to engage the axle tube, and releasable by a slide button or push button mounted on a spoke of the spool. The spool has a rim defining a line pocket and the side walls and bottom wall of the line pocket are convex for high strength and low weight.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to my U.S. Provisional Application60/352,124 filed Jan. 24, 2002 and my U.S. Provisional Application60/396,508 filed Jul. 16, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein relates to a light weight modular fly fishing reelwith an adjustable drag assembly in an axle cartridge, wherein the axlecartridge and spool may each be readily replaced.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Fly fishing is a fine art and fly fisherman want the best possible reel.My U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,772 describes a fly fishing reel with manydesirable features, including an adjustable drag, a replaceable spool,and a reversible clutch mechanism. The drag adjustment is made by meansof a drag knob, but the drag knob turns with the spool which some usersdo not find desirable. It is also noted that the drag is adjustablethrough a range established by the type and number of drag washers andthe strength of the spring provided to compress the drag washers. Thisresults in a trade-off between providing a relatively wide range of dragadjustment and providing an extremely precise drag adjustment within asmaller range. However, in order to change the range of the dragadjustment, it would be necessary to at least partially disassemble thereel to provide substitute parts.

As noted above, the spool of the fly fishing reel in my U.S. Pat. No.6,286,772 is removable for substituting a different spool, with fresh ordifferent line. This is accomplished by removing a nut and sliding thereel from an axle tube. This is a somewhat time-consuming task, at leastin the context of desiring the quickest possible spool replacement, andalso carries with it the possibility of losing the nut that retains thespool on the reel.

Thus, although my U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,772 provides an excellent flyfishing reel, there remain areas in which improvement would bedesirable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is a principal object of the invention herein to provide an improvedfly fishing reel.

It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a fly fishingreel of modular configuration.

It is an additional object of the invention herein to provide animproved fly fishing reel in which the drag mechanism is both easilyadjusted and can be readily changed as part of a module.

It is another object of the invention herein to provide a fly fishingreel in which the spool can be quickly and easily replaced.

It is also an object of the invention herein to provide a fly fishingreel that is strong and lightweight, and easy to operate.

In carrying out the invention herein, there is provided a light weightmodular fly fishing reel having a frame including a foot adapting theframe for mounting on a fishing rod. An axle cartridge is removablymounted to the frame with a rotatable axle tube of the axle cartridgeextending from the frame along an axis thereof. The axle cartridgeincludes an adjustable drag assembly therein and a drag adjustment knobon one end of the axle cartridge that extends through the frame. A spoolis removably mounted to the axle tube.

According to other aspects of the invention, the spool is secured to theaxle tube by a quick release mechanism. According to more particularaspects, the quick release mechanism is a slide operated detent thatseats in a cooperating groove in the axle tube. According to other moreparticular aspects of the invention, the quick release mechanism is apush button operated detent that seats in a cooperating groove.

In additional aspects of the invention, the rim of the spool forms anannular fishing line pocket with curved side and bottom walls, thecurved side and bottom walls permitting thin walls for low weight whileretaining high strength. The walls are preferably convex with respect tothe fishing line pocket. Multiple spools with different line capacityare provided.

The invention herein is also carried out by providing the drag assemblyincluding a plurality of drag washers and compression spring meanscontained in a drag housing, wherein the drag housing is connected withand positioned inside the axle cartridge. The drag housing is fixed withrespect to the frame, and has alternate ones of the plurality of dragwashers keyed thereto. The other alternate ones of the drag washers arekeyed to a clutch shaft extending from the drag housing, which isconnected with the axle tube through a one-way clutch so that the dragoperates only in one direction of rotation of the spool. The one-wayclutch is at the end of the axle cartridge opposite the drag adjustmentknob, and is positioned under a removable cover, wherein the one-wayclutch can be accessed and reversed with minimal disassembly of the axlecartridge.

Thus, the fly fishing reel according to the invention is provided inthree modular parts, including a spool adapted for rapid replacement.The axle cartridge may also be quickly replaced, and it is contemplatedthat axle cartridges with different ranges of drag force may beprovided.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention hereinwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art and will also inpart appear in the following detailed description and the claims, takentogether with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a fly fishing reel according to theinvention herein, taken in the direction of the frame side of the reel;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the fly fishing reel of FIG. 1, takenin the direction of the spool side of the reel;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the fly fishing reel of FIG. 1, takenalong the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged segmental view of a quick release mechanismsecuring the spool to the axle cartridge of the fly fishing reel of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded end view of the fly fishing reel of FIG. 1,illustrating the modular construction thereof;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the frame and axle cartridge of the flyfishing reel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an end view, partially in section of another fly fishing reelwith a different spool, according to the invention herein;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the fly fishing reel of FIG. 7, takenin the direction of the spool side of the reel;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded view of the spool of FIG. 7, showing aquick release mechanism securing the spool to the axle cartridge of thefly fishing reel of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an end view, partially in section, of yet another fly fishingreel with a different spool, according to the invention herein;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the fly fishing reel of FIG. 10,taken in the direction of the spool side of the reel; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged segment of FIG. 10, shown with the quick releasemechanism in a position to release the spool from the axle cartridge.

The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout thevarious figures.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a fly fishing reel 10 according to theinvention is characterized by modular construction of three mainelements; namely, a frame 12, an axle cartridge 14, and a spool 16.These elements are shown assembled as a complete fly fishing reel 10 inFIGS. 1-3, and are shown separated in FIG. 5 to illustrate the modularconstruction of the fly fishing reel 10 as well as the ease of changingor substituting the modular elements thereof.

The frame 12 includes a foot 18 which adapts the fly fishing reel 10 formounting to a fishing rod, not illustrated. The frame 12 has a curvedside wall 20 which may have a series of ribs 22 as shown in FIG. 1, forgreater strength with light weight and unique design. A mounting socket24 is integrally formed with the side wall 20 with its axis generallyperpendicularly thereto. The mounting socket 24 is threaded at 25. Theside wall has an axially extending line keeper 26 for supporting foot 18and keeping the line, and another axially extending line keeper 27 atthe lower portion of the frame.

The axle cartridge 14 is generally cylindrical, and has an annularmounting surface 28 that is matingly received in the mounting socket 24of the frame. A mounting ring 30 has an interiorly threaded flange 32that secures the axle cartridge 14 to the frame 12. The mounting ring 30is captured on the axle cartridge 14 so that it cannot be separatedtherefrom during assembly and disassembly of the modular elements.

The axle cartridge 14 has a rotatable axle tube 36 on which the spool 16is mounted. The axle cartridge contains a drag assembly, generallyindicated at 40 in FIG. 3, which has a drag knob 42 on the end thereofthat is mounted in the frame 12. The drag knob 42 extends outwardly fromthe side wall 20 of the frame, so that the drag knob 42 may bemanipulated to adjust the drag of the fly fishing reel 10.

The spool 16 of the fly fishing reel 10 has a tubular hub 46, which hasa series of spaced-apart teeth 47 on the end adjacent to the frame 12.Spokes 48 radiate outwardly from the tubular hub 46 to a rim 50. The rim50 has side walls 52, 54 and a bottom wall 56 that form an annularfishing line pocket 58. The side walls 52, 54 and the bottom wall 56 areconvex with respect to the annular fishing line pocket 58. This curvedconvex wall construction achieves greater strength than planar walls,permitting the use of thinner metal to provide a light spool whileretaining very high strength. The radius of curvature in the embodimentshown is approximately 6 inches, and may be in a range of about 5 inchesto 7 inches or a greater range of 3 inches to 9 inches. The side wall 54has a palming ring 55 at its outer periphery, for hand checking rotationof the spool. The palming ring defines a groove 57, which receives theline keepers 26, 27.

The hub 46 of the spool 16 slides on to the axle tube 36 of the axlecartridge 14. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the axle tube 36 definesteeth 38 that mesh with the teeth 47 of the spool hub 46, so that thespool 16 and axle tube 36 rotate together. The spool 16 is secured onthe axle tube 36 by a quick release mechanism 60. As best seen in FIGS.3-5, the axle tube 36 is provided with a peripheral groove 62. A seriesof notches may also be used, if desired. One spoke 48 of the spool 16has a lubricious plastic detent 64, made of a suitable polymer, that isspring biased through the hub 46 to seat in the groove 62, therebysecuring the spool 16 on the axle tube 36 of the cartridge 14. A slidebutton 66 on the exterior of spoke 48 is connected with the detent 64,so that a simple sliding motion of the slide button 66 along the spokeand against the biasing spring releases the spool. The detent is beveledon its distal end, so that the spool will slide onto the axle tube andclick into the groove 62. Thus, the spool 16 may be quickly and easilyreplaced, and all of the parts necessary to secure the spool 16 on theaxle cartridge 14 are self-contained.

The spool 16 also has a handle 70 extending therefrom for rotating thespool 16. The handle is preferably set inwardly from the outer peripheryof the spool, so that the distance of user hand travel for onerevolution of the spool is diminished and line retrieval can beaccomplished at higher speed.

The axle cartridge 14 contains the drag assembly 40 for the fly fishingreel 10, and also provides for rotation of the spool 16 with respect tothe frame 12. Parts of the axle cartridge 14 are shown in the explodedview of FIG. 6, and are best seen assembled in the enlarged sectionalview of FIG. 3. The axle cartridge has a base 74 which defines theannular mounting surface 28 which is received in the mounting socket 24of the frame 12. The base 74 mounts a cup-shaped drag housing 78 and itsend cover 80, the end cover 80 being secured to the cup-shaped housingby its threaded end 82 received in threads 84 in the side wall of thecup-shaped drag housing. The end cover 80 has a tubular stem 86 thatextends through opening 88 in the base 74, and is secured by nut 90. Aseal 91 is provided between the base and the end cover 80.

The drag assembly 40 includes plurity of drag washers 92. Alternate onesof the drag washers 92 are keyed to the drag housing 78, so that theycannot rotate with respect to the drag housing 78 and the frame 12 ofthe reel. The other alternate drag washers are keyed to clutch shaft 94which rotates with the axle tube 36 and spool 16, as more fullydescribed below. Clutch shaft 94 is supported in bushing 95.

The drag washers 92 are adjustably compressed by drag spring means 100,which in the embodiment shown is six coil springs received in the draghousing 78 between the drag washers 92 and a drag compression nut 102. Asingle spring surrounding the clutch shaft may also be used. The dragcompression nut 102 is keyed for sliding but non-rotational movement inthe drag housing 78, the key 104 being visible in FIG. 6 and the slot105 being provided on the end 82 of the end cover 80. A drag knob shaft106 is threadably received in the drag compression nut 102, and extendsthrough the stem 86 of the drag housing end cover 80 to a distal end108. The drag knob 42 is mounted on the distal end 108 for rotating thedrag knob shaft, and thereby translating the drag compression nut 102,which tightens or loosens the compression of the drag springs 100,depending on the direction of rotation of the drag knob 42. The dragknob shaft 106 has a flange 110 which positions the drag knob shaftagainst end cover 80 and a thrust washer 112 adjacent the flange 110 isprovided so that the drag knob shaft 106 may rotate freely for dragadjustment. A detent ring 114 is positioned against the base 74 andcooperates with the spring loaded detent assembly 116 to provide aclicking sound upon turning the drag knob 42 for adjustment of the drag.It will be appreciated that other configurations of drag-producingelements may be provided in the drag housing 78.

The axle tube 36 is rotatably mounted surrounding the drag housing 78,as best seen in FIG. 3. An axle tube cover 120 is threaded into theouter end 122 of the axle tube 36, and the axle tube cover defines anannular bearing seat 124. An annular ball bearing assembly 126 has itsouter race positioned on the bearing seat 124, and has its inner racereceived on the stub end 128 of the drag housing 78. This rotatablymounts the outer end of the axle tube 36.

The inner end of the axle tube 36 defines a bearing seat 130, whichreceives the outside race of ball bearing assembly 132. The inside raceof ball bearing assembly 132 is received on the base 74 at 134, therebyrotatably mounting the inside end of the axle tube 36. A second detentring 136 is mounted in the base 74, and a spring biased detent assembly138 is mounted with the axle tube 36 to provide a clicling noise uponrotation of the spool 16 in the frame 10.

The axle tube 36 is connected to the clutch shaft 94 by an annularone-way clutch 140. The one-way clutch 140 is secured in the axle tubecover 120 with its one-way roller members 142 surrounding and supportingthe clutch shaft 94. The other end 96 of clutch shaft 94 has astepped-down diameter, and is received in opening 98 of the drag knobshaft 106, which is lubricated and acts as a bushing for rotationallysupporting the clutch shaft 94. As described above, the clutch shaft 94is keyed to alternate ones of the drag washers 92. Therefore, the dragfrom the plurality of drag washers 92 is applied to the spool 16 throughthe clutch shaft 94, the axle tube cover 120, and the axle tube 36 towhich the spool 16 is mounted. Of course, the action of the one-wayclutch 140 causes the drag force to be applied only in the direction ofrotation of the spool 16 that releases line.

The axle cartridge 14 has an end cap 146 secured over the axle tubecover 120 and provided with an O-seal 148 and a cap seal member 149, forsealing the outer end of the axle cartridge. This end cap 46 is easilyremoved to access the one-way clutch 140, which can be reversed forchanging the fly fishing reel 10 from right hand to left hand operation.The location of the end cap and one-way clutch provide minimumdisassembly for affecting the change. The axle cartridge 14 is furthersealed by means of an annular seal 150, seen in FIG. 3, provided betweenthe inner end of the axle tube 36 and the base 74. Various other O-ringsare provided, as required and shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. It will beappreciated that the elements and construction of the axle cartridge 14are well suited for providing an adjustable drag function in a modularcartridge, but that other elements and constructions may also be usedfor that purpose.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the fly fishing reel is provided in its threemodular elements; namely, the frame 12, the axle cartridge 14 and thespool 16. The spool is quickly and easily replaceable, such as forsubstituting another spool 16 wound with fresh line or different testline. Because of the quick release mechanism 60, there are no parts tohandle or drop when changing spools.

The axle cartridge 14 may also be quickly and easily replaced. It iscontemplated that for general purpose fly fishing reels, the dragwashers 92 and the drag springs 100 will be selected to provide anadjustable drag over a fairly large range, e.g. from 0 lbs. to 20 lbs.or more. However, in some instances of tournament or record-qualifyingfishing, it is desirable to have an extremely precise, low-force dragadjustment. Thus, an axle cartridge with super-light drag adjustment,e.g. between 0.1 lbs and 3 lbs., may be provided and easily substitutedinto the fly fishing reel 10, using the same frame 12 and spool(s) 16.The additional axle cartridge 14 may have the same structure describedherein, but would have drag springs 100 of the appropriate spring ratefor the desired range of drag, and might have a different number of dragwashers 92 or drag washers of a different material or coefficient offriction. These are design choices depending on the desiredcircumstances of use, wherein no particular specifications arepreferred.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate another fly fishing reel 10A according to theinvention. The fly fishing reel 10A has the same frame 12 and axlecartridge 14 as utilized in the fly fishing reel 10 described above, andhas a spool 160 characterized by a different quick release mechanism162.

The spool 160 has a hub 164 including teeth 166 for engaging the spool160 with the axle tube 36. Spokes 168, 169 and 170 extend radiallyoutwardly from the hub 164 to a rim 172. The rim has first and secondsidewalls 174, 176 and a bottom wall 178, defining an annular fishingline pocket 180. The side walls 174, 176 and the bottom wall 178 arepreferably convex with respect to the fishing line pocket 180, for highstrength and light weight. The spool also has a handle 182 and acounterweight 184.

The spoke 170 mounts the quick release mechanism 162. A plastic detent186 is radially slidably mounted in the spoke 170 and is biased byspring 188 to protrude through the hub 164 and engage the groove 62 onthe axle cartridge 14 for retaining the spool 160 in mounted position.The plastic detent is releasable by a cam 190, which extends through anopening 192 in the detent 186. The cam has a push button 194 mounted onthe end thereof, and the push button and cam are mounted to the spoke170 by means of a two-piece cam housing 196. The cam 190 and push button194 are spring biased outwardly by a cam spring 198.

To release the spool 160, the cam button 194 is depressed wherein thecam raises the detent 186. This removes the detent from the groove 62 sothat the spool 160 is free to slide off the axle cartridge 14. To mountthe spool, the button 194 may be depressed to raise the detent so thatthe spool can be slid onto the axle cartridge 14. It is also possible tomount the spool 160 by pressing the spool onto the axle cartridge 14,which will “cam up” the detent without depressing the push button 194.

One of the principal advantages of the push button quick releasemechanism 162 is illustrated in the fly fishing reel 10B shown in FIGS.10, 11 and 12. The fly fishing reel 10B also utilizes the frame 12 andaxle cartridge 14 described above, but has a different spool 200.

The spool 200 has a hub 202 that fits onto the axle cartridge 14, thehub having teeth for engaging the spool on the axle tube 36. The spool200 has spokes 206, 207 and 208, which support a rim 210. The rim 210has convex sidewalls 212, 214 and a bottom wall 216. The sidewalls 212,214 of the spool 200 are of greater height than the side walls of spool160, in order to provide additional capacity within the annular fishingline pocket 218. As a result, the spokes 206, 207, 208 are shorter.

As best seen in FIG. 12, the shorter spokes still accommodate themounting of the push button quick release mechanism 162, which may beoperated by depressing push button 194 within the confined space betweenthe hub 202 and the bottom wall 216 of the spool 200. Thus, the pushbutton quick release mechanism 162 offers the opportunity of largercapacity spools and takes full advantage of the quick interchangeabilityof the spools.

Accordingly, fly fishing reels have been described which fully satisfiesthe objects of the invention. It will be appreciated that variouschanges and modifications can be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, which is limited only by the followingclaims.

1. A modular fly fishing reel comprising: A) a frame having a foot formounting onto a fly rod, the frame having a side wall defining amounting socket; B) a generally cylindrical axle cartridge removablymounted in the mounting socket of the frame, the axle cartridge having adrag assembly, the axle cartridge also having an outer rotatable axletube connected with the drag assembly; and C) a spool having a hubremovably received and removably secured on the axle tube for rotationtherewith.
 2. A modular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 1 whereinthe drag assembly is adjustable by a drag knob positioned at one end ofthe axle cartridge.
 3. A modular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 2wherein the drag knob is positioned extending from the side wall of theframe when the axle cartridge is mounted therein.
 4. A modular flyfishing reel as defined in claim 3 wherein the generally cylindricalaxle cartridge further comprises a one-way clutch connecting the dragassembly to the outer rotatable axle tube, and the one-way clutch ismounted within the axle cartridge at the end thereof opposite the dragadjustment knob.
 5. A modular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 1wherein the frame defines a socket and threads associated with thesocket, and the axle cartridge is received in the socket and threadablysecured by means of the threads associated therewith.
 6. A modular flyfishing reel as defined in claim 5 wherein the axle cartridge has amounting ring captured thereon, the mounting ring defining threads forthreadably securing the axle cartridge to the threads defined on theframe.
 7. A modular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 1 wherein thespool is releasably secured on the outer rotatable axle tube of the axlecartridge by a quick release mechanism.
 8. A modular fly fishing reel asdefined in claim 7 wherein the quick release mechanism comprises adetent spring biased through the hub to engage the axle tube, and meansfor manually releasing the detent to remove the spool.
 9. A modular flyfishing reel as defined in claim 8 wherein the means for manuallyreleasing the detent is a button slidably mounted with respect to thehub for retracting the detent.
 10. A modular fly fishing reel as definedin claim 9 wherein the spool has a rim defining a line pocket and atleast one spoke extending from the hub to the rim, and the detent andslide button are mounted to a spoke wherein generally radial slidingmotion of the button with respect to the hub retracts the detent.
 11. Amodular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 8 wherein the means formanually releasing the detent comprises a push button.
 12. A modular flyfishing reel as defined in claim 11 wherein the spool has a rim defininga line pocket and at least one spoke extending from the hub to the rim,and the detent and push button are mounted to the spoke, the push buttoncomprising a cam for retracting the detent by cam action.
 13. A modularfly fishing reel as defined in claim 8 wherein the detent is fabricatedof a polymer.
 14. A modular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 1wherein the spool has a rim with side walls and bottom walls defining aline pocket.
 15. A modular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 14wherein the rim side walls are curved along a radius of the spool.
 16. Amodular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 15 wherein the rim sidewalls are convex with respect to the line pocket.
 17. A modular flyfishing reel as defined in claim 16 wherein the curvature of the rimside walls has a radius in the range of 3 inches to 9 inches.
 18. Amodular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 17 wherein the curvature ofthe rim side walls has a radius in the range of 5 inches to 7 inches.19. A modular fly fishing reel as defined in claim 15 wherein the bottomwall defining the line pocket is curved.
 20. A modular fly fishing reelas defined in claim 19 wherein the bottom wall is convex with respect tothe line pocket.